Explosive.



STA FATE OFFICE.

GEOBG BURGSCHMIET, OF MOBDEN, MANITOBA, CANADA.

Patented May 11, 1915.

EXPLOSIVE.

1,139,339. Specification of Letters Patent.

No Drawing. Application filed January 12, 1914. Serial No. 811,753.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEoRG BURGSGHMIET, a citizen of the German Empire, and a resident of Morden, Province of Manitoba, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a new and improved explosive of that type which is not easily subject to spontaneous explosion and therefore may be safely transported and stored. The novel explosive comprises essentially nitrate of ammonium or ammonia saltpeter as it is commonly called.

It has been well known for a long time that nitrate of ammonium is decomposed by heat forming nitrous oxid and Water vapor and when the nitrous oxid is slightly overheated decomposition accompanied by explosion takes place. It is apparent from the constitution of the nitrate of ammonium that not alone spontaneous explosions are prevented, but that no poisonous gases are formed. It has been the aim to utilize nitrate of ammonium for explosives which may be safely transported and stored without being subject to spontaneous explosion such as may happen with dynamite, nitroglycerin and the like. This has been primarily attained in the present invention by compounding the nitrate of ammonium with certain ditri and tetranitro compounds of the aromatic series containing one or two benzene rings or nuclei in the molecule such as, for instance, diand tri-nitrotoluenes or ditri or tetranitronaphthalenes. Further, some dry vegetable substances are incorporated which act as retarding elements and serve for the propagation of the ignition.

The principal components of the present explosive clearly show that it withstands atmospheric influences and is not affected by' moderate heat, cold or moisture. Likewise shocks, blows or a fall such as occur during transportation or incidentally will not affect the explosive. Furthermore, comparative tests have shown that the novel explosive is more desirable than other explosives pertaining to the class of the so-called safety explosives and its manufacture is considerably more simple and cheap.

In carrying the invention into effect the nitrate of ammonium NH,NO is pulverized. The nitro compound of the aromatic series is then reduced and both substances Nitrate of ammonium about 80% Dinit'rotoluene C,H .CH .(NO

about 18% Charcoal and wood meal about 2% Total 100% For certain applications the percentages of the various components may be varied. Likewise, a change in the percentages may be made when certain nitro compounds of the aromatic series are used. For instance, the tetranitronaphthalene C, I'I (l TO explodes violently when quickly heated and therefore less, say only 15%, is used, while in this instance the percentage of nitrate of ammonium is correspondingly increased. If a dinitro product is used then a higher percentage is desirable and accordingly the nitrate of ammonium may be reduced as far down as 70%. The charcoal and wood meal may also be varied from 0.5 to 2%. If a quick initiation and propagation of the ignition is desired, a little more charcoal is added and vice versa.

The proportions of the ingredients hereinbefore stated produce an explosive for rather general application. However, the stated variations are desirable according to the nature of the different kinds of rocks and deposits in quarries and mines which are different and therefore require a somewhat modified explosive. Sometimes it is required to blast a rock to pieces in a rather destructive manner and in other cases blocks of rock should be merely separated and moved forward without any destructive effect, so that the separated blocks may be split into plates like slabs of marble. In the first instance, a high explosive effect is necessary and in the second a rather retarded and slower eifect is desirable. Variations in the percentages of the different compomemseo nents Within reasonable limits, the selection dinitrotoluene, and about 2% of charcoal 10 of the proper nitro compound of fihe aroand Wood meal. K

matic series, and. the mode of application Signed at Morden this 5th day of Janrender the novel explosive useful under the nary, 1914.

described difierent conditions and requirements Y GEORG BURGSCHMIET.

I claim as my invention: Witnesses; An explosive comprising essentially about J. B. WEBER,

80% of nitrate ofemmonium, about 18% of CLIFF RD WEIR. 

